Villagers blame Canal Dept for failing to undertake repairs, cleaning on time

Residents of about two dozen villages situated along the banks of Bathinda and Abohar branches of the Sirhind Canal, passing through this region, have accused authorities in the Canal Department of showing gross negligence in preparedness for the recent floods and rains.

This happened when the Punjab Government had declared all districts of the state as flood-hit and the administration had claimed to have spent crores on cleaning of canals and strengthening of infrastructure.

The presence of heaps of accumulated silt and sand in canal basin and the dilapidated condition of bridges and berms made residents spend sleepless nights apprehending overflow and breaches in case water was released into these branches from Ropar Headworks. At some places, accumulation of silt and sand has blocked a major part of the canal, and at other places, fallen trees have blocked the flow of water.

Residents led by former Chairman of the Market Committee, Kilaraipur, Ranjit Singh Mangat, alleged that authorities in the Canal Department had shown unprecedented lack of concern towards the safety of life and property of around two dozen villages situated along the banks of Abohar and Bathinda branches of Sirhind Canal passing through the area.

Mangat regretted that none of the authorities or leaders enjoying power in the state government had bothered to take notice of a number of social media posts highlighting the apathy of Canal Department officials towards ensuring smooth and safe flow of water besides safety of residents using passages and bridges associated with these branches.

“Though we have been requesting the personnel concerned in the Canal Department to undertake remedial actions to remove accumulated silt and sand besides trees and twigs, all our appeals fell on deaf ears,” Mangat alleged.

Residents alleged that the poor upkeep of canal branches could have caused havoc in case water was released from Ropar Headworks during floods.

“Our grievance is that the authorities have failed to consider our life and property worth anything and left us at the mercy of nature in case water was required to be released in these branches,” rued residents.

People are even more upset that when the Punjab government declared all the districts of the state as flood-affected and the social media was flooded with posts highlighting the pathetic conduction of these branches, employees who were supposed to keep a close watch on the canals were busy appeasing their masters at their residences.

Damandeep Singh argued that de-silting and clearing besides other repair work is normally undertaken when the supply of water is closed in various branches. He argued that water is released in these branches only after the submission of indent according to demand.